INDIANAPOLIS – For the second time in three nights the UIndy volleyball squad dropped an epic five-setter, this one to 10th-ranked Wheeling Jesuit 3-2 (25-27, 25-11, 25-19, 31-33 , 15-12) in the opening match of the UIndy Volleyball Tournament.

During the loss junior setter Natalie Wichern broke the program's single-match assist record, racking up a remarkable 72 assists while supplying the Greyhound attack. The former record of 71 assists was set by Beth Robbins at Bellarmine back on Oct. 19, 2007.

UIndy (2-4) grabbed an early match lead with a hard-fought 27-25 victory in the opening set. Wichern was a catalyst offensively, dishing 18 assists and recording the set-winning kill in the process. UIndy hit a match-high .432 in the frame.

The visiting Cardinals (3-2) took the next two sets, 25-11 and 25-19, taking a 2-1 advantage.

The marathon fourth set defined the entire match as the two squads traded points in a thrilling 33-31 UIndy victory. The Hounds hit .322, led by junior Becca Lira's 10 kills and .642 attack percentage. Junior Shelby Ruffner totaled seven kills, as well, and freshman libero Bri Heffernan recorded 10 of her career-best 33 digs in the set.

In the fifth and final set Wheeling Jesuit had just enough to knock off the upset-minded Greyhounds, taking the game 15-12 and the match 3-2.

Wheeling Jesuit hit .305 for the match compared to UIndy's .250, and also had 96 digs to the Hounds' 82. Both teams finished with eight blocks.

Lira set a new career high with 23 kills, all while hitting an impressive .304 (23-6-56) and adding four block assists. Ruffner followed with 18 kills and a .375 percentage, both her highest totals in a Greyhound uniform. Freshman Sarah Skinner finished with 10 kills.

Defensively, Heffernan's 33 digs marked just the fourth 30-plus dig performance in the last five seasons. Seniors Hailey Brown and Jamie Wallace each earned 13 digs. Following Lira's four block assists, Ruffner and freshman Katie Voelz tallied three and Wichern one.

UIndy's grind continues Friday with a 4:00 p.m. match versus No. 6 Colorado School of Mines. The UIndy Volleyball Tournament begins at 10:00 a.m. with a match between the sixth-ranked Orediggers and No. 3 Minnesota Duluth. More information on the tournament can be found here.

NOTES
- UIndy and Wheeling Jesuit are now tied 4-4 in the teams' all-time series, with the Cardinals winning the last three meetings.
- Wichern's previous career-high for assists was 43, which she accomplished twice (most recently set Tuesday night at Cedarville).
- Lira's previous career-high in kills was 22, set in the season-opening win against North Alabama (9/4/15).